- Lawrence, Vera Brodsky. Strong on Music: The New York Music Scene in the
Days of George Templeton Strong. Volume One: Resonances, 1836–1849.
New York: Oxford U.P., 1987. lvi, 608p. Reprint, Chicago: U. of Chicago
Press, 1995. ISBN (Oxford) 0-19-503199-2. ML200.8 .N5 L4.
A valuable account of the city’s musical culture, based on Strong’s diary. A
lawyer and music lover, Strong made articulate observations on concerts,
singers, composers, and all aspects of the art milieu. Extensive commentaries
by Lawrence and an expansive index that leads to critical writings and such
miscellaneous facts as the addresses of music stores. Bibliography of about 400
primary and secondary sources. See next entry. - Lawrence, Vera Brodsky. Strong on Music: The New York Music Scene in the
Days of George Templeton Strong. Volume Two: Reverberations, 1850–1856
Chicago: U. of Chicago Press, 1995. xxii, 863p. ISBN 0-226-47010-5.
ML200.8 .N3 C42. Volume Three: Repercussions, 1857–1862.Chicago: U. of
Chicago Press, 1999. xvii, 630p. ISBN 0-226-47015-6. ML200.8 .N3 C43.
Continuations of the preceding entry.
New York City: Histories—20th Century
The writings of music critics give good perspectives on concert and opera life. Collec-
tions of New York criticisms already cited: Aldrich (#425), Henderson (#427), and
Porter (#432). Others:
- Downes, Olin. Olin Downes on Music: A Selection from His Writings during
the Half-Century 1906 to 1955. Ed. Irene Downes. New York: Simon &
Schuster, 1957. 473p. ML60 .C73.
Downes wrote for the New York Timesand earlier for the Boston Post.The
book offers about 150 reviews, with a name and title index. - Krehbiel, Henry Edward. More Chapters of Opera: Being Historical and Crit-
ical Observations and Records Concerning the Lyric Drama in New York
from 1908 to 1918.New York: Holt, 1919. xvi, 474p. ML1711.8 .N3 K74.
Continues #2787; has tables of performances and singers.
New York City: The Metropolitan Opera (“The Met”)
- Mayer, Martin. The Met: One Hundred Years of Grand Opera.New York:
Simon & Schuster for the Metropolitan Opera Guild, 1983. 368p. ISBN 0-671-
47087-6. ML1711.8 .N3 M46.
The official history of the Met’s first century: a fluid narrative, with backnotes,
212 pleasing illustrations, and a name-title index.
2793.Annals of the Metropolitan Opera: The Complete Chronicle of Performances
and Artists; Chronology 1883–1985.Ed. Gerald Fitzgerald. New York: Met-
ropolitan Opera Guild; Boston: G. K. Hall, 1989. 2v. ISBN 0-8161-8903-X.
ML1711.8 .N3 M38.
V.1: chronology, with casts. V.2: lists of performers, composers and librettists,
production personnel, locations, broadcasts, staff, chorus and ballet masters,
516 Opera